THE NATIVE MEMBERS AND MR CADMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 178, 29 July 1893, Page 5

THE NATIVE MEMBERS AND MR CADMAN.

STATEMENT BY MR PARATA.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —PARLIAMENTARY RE

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day. Me Taiptja's follow Maori members aro very much displeased with his remarks on Mr Cadman in his contribution to the Financial:,debate. They are very anxious that the opinions then expressed should not be acceptod as those of the natives, and regret that, having already spoken, they had no opportunity, after Mr Taipaa sab down, to contradict what ho had said. Failing this opportunity, Mr Parata, who is, perhaps, the leading; native in the flouso, has given me hia views on Mr Cadman and the Umutaoroa block transaction. These views are of far more importance than those of Taipua, who has no connection with tho district in which the Umutaoroa block is situated. Ho said, "It was only because I have already spoken in the debate, and could not, therefore, speak again, that I did not reply to the Hon. Mr Taipua's remarks yesterday. I consider he was entirely wrong in what he said about Mr Cadman, the late Native Minister, as in my opinion, as well as in that of most of the natives, he was one of tho best and most straightforward Native Ministers we have had. His word could always be depended on, and he always showed great sympathy with the native people and did his best for them, but could not please all, or give them all what they wanted; hence, no doubt, is the reason of Hoani Taipua's dissatisfaction."

Speaking of the Umutaoroa Block, Parata said : " Tho Umutaoroa . Block is nob in Hoani Taipua's electorate, and ho has evidently been misled in the matter. The natives have no complaint about its sale, and as the Government tried to buy it from them between IS7I and 1882 and failed, there was no likelihood of their wishing to sell to the Governmenb. The restrictions were taken off by Mr Mitchelaon under the provisions of Section 5 of tho Native Land Act, 1888, on application of the natives themselves. They do not seem to have known or heard of Mr Cadman in tho matter at all, neither as to the restrictions nor the snle. I have heard none of tho natives say they were ever requested by anyone to apply for the removal of the restrictions from tho block in question." It is very clear from the above that Taipua's remarks are but an expression of his own opinion and do nob represent the feelings of the natives generally towards the late Native Minister, or it is just possible that that speech of his had a deeper source. Somo think it was an astute move on the part of Mr Cadman's opponent to geb a native to speak against him. If so it has proved a weak invention of the enemy. I am informed that there was an understanding avnonsr the native members that none of thorn should make any reference to the Cadman-Rees affair. If they had understood that Mr Taipua was going to speak they would have taken occasion to etate their views, which, I need hardly say, would have been very different Irom those of the member for the Southern Maori electorate.